Apparatus for stopping a takeup bobbin

ABSTRACT

A system for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft including a driving roller coupled to the bobbin and journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller, and a magnet for locking the first and second clutch members together.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority Charles Crouzet Roanne, France Sept. 23, 1968 Feb. 16, 1971 Ateliers Roannais de Constructions Textiles Roanne (Loire), France Sept. 21, 1967 France APPARATUS FOR STOPPING A TAKEUP BOBBIN 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[1.8. CI 242/36, 242/ l 8 Int. Cl B65h 63/00 Field ofSearch 242/18, 18 (DD), 36

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,006,055 6/1935 McKean 242/36X 2,180,434 11/1939 Runton 1 242/18 2,144,192 1/1939 Mills 242/36 3,169,716 2/1965 Furst 242/36 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond ABSTRACT: A system for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft including a driving roller coupled to the bobbin and journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller, and a magnet for locking the first and second clutch members together.

PATENTEU Fzalslsn 3563480 sum 1 or 4 48 I 49 \L 1111i I 32 8.3 52 V INVENTOR. CHARLES CROUZET his ATTORNEYS PATENTEUFEBI'BIHIII 3563480 INVEN'I'OR. CHARLES CROUZET his ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR STOPPING A TAKEUP BOBBIN This invention relates to an apparatus for stopping a bobbin and, more particularly, to a new and improved apparatus for stopping a takeup bobbin on which is wound yarn, thread or any similar filament.

Apparatus is known for imparting a'false-twist, crimp or crinkle to yarn in order that the yarn have the desired properties. The yarn to be treated is generally drawn from a vertical feeder spindle, and after the false-twist or crimp has been imparted to the yarn, the treated yarn is wound on a horizontal takeup bobbin. The takeup bobbin is conventionally rotated by a driving roller which is disposed in driving engagement with the bobbin. j 7

It is advantageous to provide means for automatically stopping the rotation of the takeup bobbin whenever the bobbin has attained the desired diameter, the yarn breaks or is cut by a conventional cutter, or the feeder spool has been exhausted. If the takeup bobbin is not stopped in these circumstances, several harmful effects will occur. Thus, continued rotation of the takeup bobbin is likely to cause slippage of the turns wound thereon and unraveling of the yarn. Also, the free end of the yarn may engage and break other yarn at neighboring stations on the textile machine, or it may become entangled and be wound on another element of the machine such as the drive shaft, for example.

Accordingly, takeup bobbin stopping devices have been developed in an effort to prevent the above-described harmful effects. To this end, there was first developed the so-called package lifters," which include a swinging feeler engaging the yarn. When the yarn breaks, the feeler swings and the package lifter element inserts itself between the driving roller and the takeup bobbin, which is sometimes referred to as a package by those skilled in the art. The driving roller continues to turn, but the takeup bobbin coasts to a stop after it has been disengaged. Unfortunately, the takeup bobbin and the yarn wound thereon have considerable inertia, and so a significant period of time elapses before the bobbin stops. Furthermore, a substantial disp acement of the package lifter element is required, and the lifter must be able to displace a considerable mass.

Another type of takeup reel lifter operates by acting on the bearing supporting the spindle of the takeup reel. Here too, however, the lifter must lift a significant mass which increases a more yarn is wound on the bobbin. A system capable of displacing such masses is accompanied by relatively high inertia. Accordingly, the takeup bobbin continues to turn and cause the harmful effects which the stopping device is supposedto prevent.

It has also been proposed to use driving rollers which can be disengaged from the drive motor by axially displacing the rollers by a swinging yarn feeler. The French Pat. Nos. 994,335, dated Jan. 17, 1945, and 1,373,03l, dated May 30, 1963, disclose such a system. Nevertheless, among the disadvantages of these prior art stopping devices is that they do not provide an effective engagement between the driving roller and the drive shaft.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for stopping a takeup bobbin which effectively overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a takeup bobbin stopping apparatus which insures an effective engagement between the driving roller and the drive shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a takeu bobbin stopping apparatus of low inertia which, when triggered, rapidly brings the driving roller and the bobbin to a complete stop.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by providing a driving roller loosely mounted on the rotating drive shaft and adapted to be displaced in one direction to urge the driving roller against a braking element, or in the opposite direction into driving engagement with the drive shaft. The engagement between the driving roller and the drive shaft is accomplished by first and second clutch members mounted on the drive shaft and the driving roller, respectively, and a magnet for locking the first and second clutch members together. Means are provided for displacing the driving roller in both directions, the displacing means being biased in a direction to urge the driving roller against the braking element. The displacing means is locked in a neutral position out of contact with the driving roller when the clutch members are engaged. When the takeup bobbin reaches the desired diameter, or whenever the yarn is broken or the feeder spool is exhausted, the lock'for the displacing means is released so that the driving roller is disengaged from the drive shaft and is driven against the braking element,

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a typical apparatus for stopping a bobbin in accordance with the invention, the apparatus for sensing the condition'of the yarn being shown in schematic form;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the driving roller engaged with the drive shaft;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the driving roller disengaged from the drive shaft; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the typical embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a bobbin stopping apparatus 10 in incorporated in a textile machine for imparting a false-twist, crimp or crinkle to a yarn 11 (shown in phantom). After the yarn 11 has been treated by apparatus (not shown) which is outside of the scope of the present invention, the yarn is wound on a conventional takeup bobbin 12, which is suitably mounted for rotation and which is disposed in driving engagement with a driving roller The driving roller is joumaled by means of the bearings 15 on a drive shaft 16 to permit relative rotation and axial displacement between the driving roller and the drive shaft. The drive shaft may extend over theentire length of the textile machine, it being understood that the machine preferably includes a plurality of feeder spools and takeup bobbins to enable the simultaneous treatment of different yarns. The drive shaft is rotated by a conventional motor 18 in the direction of the arrow 19.

The outer portion of the left end plate 20 (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the driving roller 14 is formed with a plurality of teeth 22 and a central coaxial recess 23, which receives a magnetizable collar 24 which is preferably of steel, the collar 24 being secured in the recess 23 by a press fit. A hub 26 is secured to the drive shaft 16 for rotation therewith by a screw 27 and is formed with a peripheral ring of teeth 28 which face, and are adapted to engage, the teeth 22 of the driving roller. The teeth 22 and 28 comprise the meshing elements of a clutch for selectively engaging the driving roller with the drive shaft. A permanent magnet 30 mounted in the hub 26 is adapted to coact with the magnetizable collar 24 to lock together the hub 26 and the end plate 20 of the driving roller.

A main support 32 extends through the textile machine and is disposed parallel to the drive shaft 16. To the main support is secured by a plurality of screws 33 a support 34 which mounts for rotation a shaft 36 and slidably mounts a slide bar 38 of square cross section, the shaft 36 and the slide bar 38 being disposed parallel to the drive shaft 16. The slide bar is slidably received in complementary square apertures to prevent rotation of the slide bar in the support 34.

Secured to opposite ends of the slide bar 38 by screws 40 are a left finger 41 and a right finger 42, the fingers 41 and 42 being disposed adjacent and on opposite sides of the driving roller 14. The fingers are spaced from each other by a distance which exceeds the length of the driving roller 14 by 2 millimeters, for example. A compression spring 44l mounted around the slide bar 38 bears against the support 34 and the right finger 42 and biases the slide bar 38 to the right to urge the left finger 41 against the driving roller 14 and displaces the driving roller to the right against a braking element 46 mounted on the main support 32.

A pin 48 extending from the slide bar 38 extends through a slot 49 formed in a lever 50 which is pivotally mounted by its hub 50a on a stationary pin 52 secured to the support 34. A pin 54 extending through the left arm of the lever 50 pivotally mounts the right ends of a lever 55 and a link 56, the lever 55 and the link being disposed on opposite sides of the lever 50. A link 58 is pivoted at its upper end about a pin 59 mounted on the frame 34 and is pivotally coupled at the opposite end by a pin 60 mounted on the lever 55 and the link 56, the link 58 extending therebetween.

The end of the lever 55 remote from the lever 50 is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 62 formed in an armature 63 which is pivoted about a pin 64 mounted on the support 34. The armature 63 is biased by a spring 65' against a stop 67 which is so disposed on the support 34 that the point of contact between the lever 55 and the shoulder 62 is located to the right of a vertical through the pin 64 when the armature 63 engages the stop 67.

The armature 63 coacts with an electromagnet 70 mounted on the support 34. The electromagnet is adapted to be energized by a suitable source 72 (see FIG. 1) of electric current acting through a switch 73. The switch is coupled to a pivotally mounted feeler arm 75 which is biased for rotation by a spring 76 and which engages the yarn 11 being wound on the takeup bobbin 12. As the size of the bobbin increases, the feeler 75 is rotated by the yarn engaged thereby, and when the bobbin attains a predetermined diameter, the switch 73 is closed to energize the electromagnet 70. Also, whenever the yarn 11 is broken or is cut by a conventional yarn cutter, the feeler is rotated by the biasing spring 76 to close the switch 73.

A torsion spring 78 disposed about the shaft 36 is mounted at one end to the support 34 and at the other end to a collar 80 secured to the shaft 36. The torsion spring biases the shaft 36 to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow 81. The shaft 36 may be manually rotated by a lever 82 extending from a hub 83 secured to the shaft, and an arm 84 extending from the hub 83 is biased by the spring 78 against the lower edge (as viewed in FIGS. 1-3) ofthe lever 50.

FIG. 2 shows the bobbin stopping apparatus when the driving roller 14 is coupled through the hub 26 to the drive shaft 16. The magnet 30 acting on the collar 24 locks the end plate in engagement with the hub 26, in which engagement the teeth 28 of the hub overlap or mesh with the teeth 22 of the end plate over an axial distance of 3 millimeters, for example. The displacing fingers 41 and 42 in the neutral position illustrated are spaced from the adjacent ends of the driving roller 14 by approximately 1 millimeter, so that when the driving roller 14 and the takeup bobbin 12 are rotated there is no friction between the displacing fingers and the driving roller. Also, the braking element 46 is spaced from the right end of the driving roller by approximately 4 millimeters when the driving roller is in the neutral position.

The slide bar 38, which is biased to the right by the compression spring 44, is locked in the neutral position illustrated through the linkage including the levers 50 and 55, the link 58' and the electromagnet armature 63. Thus, the pin 48 of the slide bar 38 tends to pivot the lever 50 clockwise around the stationary pin 52, which tends to cause a counterclockwise rotation of the lever 55 about the pin 60 extending through the lower end ofthe link 58. This drives the left end ofthe lever 55 against the shoulder 62 of the armature 63, the armature being biased against the stop 67 by the spring 65 in the position illustrated. The slide bar 38, and the displacing fingers 41 and 42 secured thereto, are thus prevented from being driven by the biasing spring 44 to the right of the neutral position illustrated because the link 58 and the shoulder 62, acting through the lever 55, prevent the clockwise rotation of the lever 50.

The levers 50 and 55 and the link 58 are arranged to provide a force reduction linkage between the slide bar 38 and the end of the lever 55 adapted to engage the shoulder 62.

Thus, if the compression spring 44 exerts a force of 1,000 grams on the slide bar, for example, the force exerted by the left end of the lever 55 on the shoulder 62 does not exceed 250 grams in the preferred embodiment. With a coefficient of friction of 0.2 between the engaging surfaces of the lever 55 and the shoulder 62, an attractive force of 50 grams between the electromagnet 70 and its armature 63 will be sufficient to rotate the armature counterclockwise about the stationary pin 64 to release the lever 55 from the shoulder 62.

The apparatus stops the driving roller 14 and the takeup bobbin 12 engaged therewith as follows. When the takeup bobbin reaches a predetermined size, or whenever the yarn 11 is broken or cut, or the feeder reel is exhausted, such condition is sensed by the feeler arm 75, which rotates to close the switch 73 and energize the electromagnet 70. The armature 63 is pulled toward the electromagnet, thereby releasing the left end of the lever 55. As a result, the compression spring 44 is able to drive the slide bar 38 to the right while rotating the lever 50 and the link 58 clockwise and the lever 55 counter clockwise to the positions shown in FIG. 3. As the lever 50 is rotated, it in turn rotates'the arm 84 bearing-thereagainst and the hand lever 82 to the positions shown in phantom in FIG. 1.

The slide bar 38 is driven through a total displacement of 5 millimeters in disengaging the driving roller from the hub 26 and driving it against the stationary braking element 46. Thus,

1 millimeter of displacement brings the left displacing finger 41 into contact with the driving roller 14, the next 3 millimeters of displacement decouples the teeth 22 and 28, and the final l millimeter of displacement brings the driving roller into engagement with the braking element 46.

Accordingly, the relatively large force provided by the compression spring 44, which is released by a relatively small force on the electromagnet armature 63, insures that the driving roller 14 is disengaged from the drive shaft 16 and is driven against the brake 46 to effect an immediate stoppage of the driving roller and the takeup bobbin engaged thereby, while the drive shaft l6continues to rotate.

In order to reengage the driving roller with the drive shaft, the condition of the yarn is corrected, thereby returning the yarn feeler 75 to a disposition in which the switch 73 is opened to deenergize the electromagnet 70. This enables the biasing spring 65 to pull the armature 63 against the stop 67. The hand lever 82 is then pulled downwardly to lift the arm 84 and rotate the lever 50 counterclockwise from the position illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby displacing to the left the slide bar 38 through its pin 48.

The slide bar 38 is first displaced 2 millimeters in order to bring the right displacing finger 42 into engagement with the driving roller 14, followed by an additional 4 millimeter displacement to withdraw the driving roller from the braking element 46 and to mesh the opposing teeth 22 and 28, the magnet 30 locking the driving roller into engagement with the drive shaft. At the same time the counterclockwise rotation of the lever 50 moves the pin 54'to the position indicated at 54', the pin 60 to the position 60 and the lever 55 to the position indicated in phantom at 55'.

As the lever 55 is rotated in the clockwise direction, its left end engages the armature 63 and rotates it in the counterclockwise direction to the extent necessary to enable the lever 55 to clear the shoulder 62, at which time the biasing spring 65 pulls the armature against the stop 67. The left end of the lever 55 is preferably rounded or beveled on its upper surface to facilitate such camming action on the armature by the lever.

When the driving roller 14 has been driven into full engagement with the hub 26 by the manual lever 82, the right displacing finger 42 will be in engagement with the driving roller, the left displacing finger 41 will be spaced from the driving roller by 2 millimeters, and the left end of the lever 55 will be spaced slightly above the shoulder 62. When the lever 82 is released, the compression spring 44 displaces the slide bar 38 l millimeter to the right, at which time the left end of the lever 55 engages the shoulder 62 of the armature 63. The slide bar is then locked in the neutral position illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the displacing fingers being spaced from the adjacent end of the driving roller by l millimeter. The driving roller is thus free to rotate until the yarn feeler 75 triggers the stopping apparatus in response to one of the above-described predetermined conditions of the yarn 11.

Although this invention has been described with reference to the foregoing specific embodiment, it will be understood that various substitutions, changes-and modifications in the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and its manner of employment may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such variations and modifications, therefore, are included in the intended scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft comprising a driving roller journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto, the bobbin being mechanically coupled to the driving roller for rotation therewith, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller for rotation therewith and operatively associated with the first clutch member, and magnet means mounted to prevent axial displacement with respect to the drive shaft and adapted to urge the second clutch member against the first clutch member for locking the first and second clutch members together.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second clutch members is formed with at least one ring of teeth, the teeth of the two clutch members meshing with each other when the clutch members are engaged.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for displacing the driving roller axially of the drive shaft in one direction to engage the first and second clutch members and in the opposite direction to disengage the first and second clutch members.

4. Apparatus for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft comprising a driving roller journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto, the bobbin being mechanically coupled to the driving roller for rotation therewith, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller for rotation therewith and operatively associated with the first clutch member, means for locking the first and second clutch members together, and means for displacing the driving roller axially of the drive shaft in one direction to engage the first and second clutch members and in the opposite direction to disengage the first and second clutch members, the displacing means including a pair of spaced fingers mounted for movement together, each of the fingers being adjacent a different end of the driving roller, one of the fingers being adapted to engage the driving roller and displace it in the direction to engage the clutch members, and the other finger being adapted to engage the driving roller and displace it in the direction to disengage the clutch members.

5. Apparatus for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft comprising a driving roller journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto,

the bobbin being mechanically coupled to the driving roller for rotation therewith, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller for rotation therewith and operatively associated with the first clutch member, means for locking the first and second clutch members together, means for displacing the driving roller axially of the drive shaft in one direction to engage the first and second clutch members and in the opposite direction to disengage the first and second clutch members, the second clutch member being mounted on one end of the driving roller, and stationary brake means adjacent the opposite end of the driving roller for engaging the driving roller and stopping the rotation thereof when the latter is urged thereagainst.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including means for biasing the displacing means in the direction for disengaging the clutch members and for urging the driving roller agains the brake means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including means for locking the displacing means to prevent the biasing means from driving the driving roller against the brake means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the locking means locks the displacing means in a neutral position in which each of the displacing fingers is disposed in spaced relation to the adjacent end of the driving roller when the first and second clutch members are engaged.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for displacing the displacing means against the force exerted by the biasing means in the direction for withdrawing the driving roller from the brake means and for engaging the clutch members.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the bobbin is rotated to wind up a yarn fed thereto, and including means responsive to a predetermined condition of the yarn for releasing the locking means.

ll. Apparatus according to claim '10 wherein the locking means includes a force reduction linkage to enable a relatively small force on the releasing means to release the displacing means when the biasing means exerts a relatively large force on the displacing means. I

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the releasing means includes a feeler adapted to engage the yarn, a switch coupled to the feeler and adapted to be operated when the yarn assumes a predetermined disposition, and an electromechanical transducer adapted to be activated by the switch to release the locking means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a magnetizable element mounted on the driving roller, and wherein the magnet means includes a magnet mounted on the second clutch member and adapted to coact with the magnetizable element. 1

14. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the locking means includes a magnet mounted on one of the drive shaft and the driving roller, and a magnetizable element mounted on the other of the drive shaft and the driving roller, the magnet and the magnetizable element coacting to lock the first and second clutch members in engaged relation. 

1. Apparatus for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft comprising a driving roller journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto, the bobbin being mechanically coupled to the driving roller for rotation therewith, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller for rotation therewith and operatively associated with the first clutch member, and magnet means mounted to prevent axial displacement with respect to the drive shaft and adapted to urge the second clutch member against the first clutch member for locking the first and second clutch members together.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second clutch members is formed with at least one ring of teeth, the teeth of the two clutch members meshing with each other when the clutch members are engaged.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for displacing the driving roller axialLy of the drive shaft in one direction to engage the first and second clutch members and in the opposite direction to disengage the first and second clutch members.
 4. Apparatus for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft comprising a driving roller journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto, the bobbin being mechanically coupled to the driving roller for rotation therewith, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller for rotation therewith and operatively associated with the first clutch member, means for locking the first and second clutch members together, and means for displacing the driving roller axially of the drive shaft in one direction to engage the first and second clutch members and in the opposite direction to disengage the first and second clutch members, the displacing means including a pair of spaced fingers mounted for movement together, each of the fingers being adjacent a different end of the driving roller, one of the fingers being adapted to engage the driving roller and displace it in the direction to engage the clutch members, and the other finger being adapted to engage the driving roller and displace it in the direction to disengage the clutch members.
 5. Apparatus for stopping a bobbin adapted to be rotated by a drive shaft comprising a driving roller journaled on the drive shaft for rotation and axial displacement with respect thereto, the bobbin being mechanically coupled to the driving roller for rotation therewith, a first clutch member mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second clutch member mounted on the driving roller for rotation therewith and operatively associated with the first clutch member, means for locking the first and second clutch members together, means for displacing the driving roller axially of the drive shaft in one direction to engage the first and second clutch members and in the opposite direction to disengage the first and second clutch members, the second clutch member being mounted on one end of the driving roller, and stationary brake means adjacent the opposite end of the driving roller for engaging the driving roller and stopping the rotation thereof when the latter is urged thereagainst.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including means for biasing the displacing means in the direction for disengaging the clutch members and for urging the driving roller against the brake means.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including means for locking the displacing means to prevent the biasing means from driving the driving roller against the brake means.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the locking means locks the displacing means in a neutral position in which each of the displacing fingers is disposed in spaced relation to the adjacent end of the driving roller when the first and second clutch members are engaged.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for displacing the displacing means against the force exerted by the biasing means in the direction for withdrawing the driving roller from the brake means and for engaging the clutch members.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the bobbin is rotated to wind up a yarn fed thereto, and including means responsive to a predetermined condition of the yarn for releasing the locking means.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the locking means includes a force reduction linkage to enable a relatively small force on the releasing means to release the displacing means when the biasing means exerts a relatively large force on the displacing means.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the releasing means includes a feeler adapted to engage the yarn, a switch coupled to the feeler and adapted to be operated when the yarn assumes a predetermined disposition, and an electromechanical transducer adapted to be activated by the switch to release the locking means.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a magnetizable element mounted on the driving roller, and wherein the magnet means includes a magnet mounted on the second clutch member and adapted to coact with the magnetizable element.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the locking means includes a magnet mounted on one of the drive shaft and the driving roller, and a magnetizable element mounted on the other of the drive shaft and the driving roller, the magnet and the magnetizable element coacting to lock the first and second clutch members in engaged relation. 